Celebrating Christmas Traditionally at Windmill Lodges
Christmas and New Year are just around the corner – but where do all the traditions we associate with the festive period come from? Here Windmill Lodges, offer lodges with hot tubs in the heart of Suffolk, outline some of the key ones – and how you can still celebrate in a traditional way if you are joining us during the holiday season.
Giving Gifts
Although the Christian element of Christmas can be traced back to the gifts the Three Wise Men or Magi gave to the baby Jesus, the idea of giving presents during December actually predates this act.
Specifically, the practice is thought to have originated from the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, which saw thanks given to the agricultural god Saturn. The festivities took place from the 17th – 23rd December and were celebrated with a sacrifice and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving. Thanks were given to the bounty provided by the agricultural god Saturn during the year’s harvest.
Other religions mark the end of the year with similar gift-giving customs, such as the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Whatever your religion, you are still welcome to celebrate Christmas by giving gifts if you are enjoying a log cabin short break with us.
Christmas Trees
The roots (no pun intended) of this tradition of Christmas trees may be traced back to mediaeval Mystery Plays, where Bible stories were enacted on 24th December and the tree was a ‘tree of paradise’.
However, the more modern tradition is believed to have started in central Europe – probably Germany or one of the Baltic countries – in or around the 16th century. Protestant reformer Martin Luther is said to have added the first lights to a tree, in the form of candles. For safety reasons these have now largely been replaced by electric lights.
If you celebrate Christmas or the New Year with us, then you will find your cabin decked out with fairy lights and your own Christmas tree in the lounge, all lit up and with baubles and other decorations as well.
Christmas Dinner
The practice of eating turkey at Christmas, in the UK at least, seems to have evolved gradually over the centuries. King Henry VIII was the first monarch to eat it instead of goose and King Edward VII followed in his footsteps.
However, it wasn’t until the Victorian era that it became the main meat at the festive dinner table for the wider population; Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella A Christmas Carol may have helped popularise it even further – the novella was instrumental in re-popularising many Christmas traditions for the general public such as family gatherings, festive food and drink and enjoying games after dinner.
Of course, not all cultures eat turkey at Christmas – other cultures and religions prefer other meats, and many people are vegetarian or vegan. Whatever Christmas meal you want to provide, all our lodges’ kitchens are fully equipped with a full-sized cooker, a microwave, a fridge – and a dishwasher so you don’t have to worry about the washing up.
New Year Traditions
The UK doesn’t perhaps have as many traditions for the New Year as other countries – mainly because it’s so cold, unlike many of the southern hemisphere countries where it’s much warmer.
For instance, in Australia and Brazil many people head to the beaches for a New Year’s Day swim, secure in the knowledge that the sea won’t be too cold (although you can head to Southwold, Aldeburgh or any of the Suffolk resorts if you are feeling brave enough!).
The tradition of singing Auld Lang Syne to see in the New Year spread to England from Scotland. It was originally a poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 (but based on an earlier Scottish folk song).
You are more than welcome to see (and sing) the New Year in here in the comfort of your own Windmill Lodges cabin with a glass of bubbly or by watching the festivities around the world on your own TV.
Lodges with Hot Tubs in Suffolk at Windmill Lodges
If you come and stay with us over the holiday period, you will be able to get away from it all in the heart of the Suffolk countryside. There are plenty of walks to enjoy along the coast, and other nearby sights and attractions. Two of our lodges – Woodpecker and Wagtail – are pet-friendly and are equipped with a lead and dog bowls if you want to bring your canine companion with you as well.
And you will also benefit of being able to unwind in your lodge’s own private hot tub, if you don’t fancy going for a post-Christmas lunch walk.
If you would like to come and stay with us at any point over the festive period – or want to book something later in 2025 – then you can check out the availability of our lodges by following this link.
If you have any questions, you can click here and fill in the online form, or give us a call on 01728 685338.